CBIS EXAM QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS | CERTIFIED BRAIN INJURY SPECIALIST (CBIS)
CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE 2026
Acute Brain Injury - correct answer ✔✔An injury to the brain that is not hereditary, congenital,
degenerative, or induced by birth trauma
Traumatic Brain Injury - correct answer ✔✔An alteration in brain function, or other evidence of
brain pathology, caused by an external force
2 Mechanisms
*trauma impact
* traumatic inertial forces
Non-traumatic brain injury - correct answer ✔✔Lack of O2, decreased nutrients to cells,
exposure to toxins, pressure from tumor or blockage or other neuro disorder
ABI Prevalence - correct answer ✔✔2nd most prevalent disability in U. S.
* 13.5 million Americans
Children & TBI - correct answer ✔✔* non-accidental trauma cause of 80% of deaths in children
under 2yo
* 2/3 of children under 3yo that are abused have TBIs
*falls cause 1/2 of TBI in 0-14yo
domestic violence - correct answer ✔✔67% of women in domestic violence had TBI symptoms
Mild TBI - correct answer ✔✔*concussion
*LOC > 30 min
*loss of memory >24hrs
,*CGS 13-15
*normal CT or MRI
*any AMS at time of incident
Moderate TBI - correct answer ✔✔*LOC up to 24hrs
*neuro signs of brain trauma
* CGS 9-12
*may have focal findings on CT
Severe TBI - correct answer ✔✔*LOC <24hrs
*GCS 3-8
Screens for TBI - correct answer ✔✔ACE - acute concussion eval
HELPS
WARCAT - warrior administered retrospective casualty assessment tool
TBIQ - traumatic brain injury questionnaire
ImPACT
OSU TBI ID
JCAHO (Joint Commission) - correct answer ✔✔The non-profit organization that assists
healthcare facilities by providing accreditation
3 year award
CARF (Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission) - correct answer ✔✔The Organization that
oversees the accreditation of brain injury programs
3 year award
, TBI Act of 1996 - correct answer ✔✔Federal Legislation
"To expand efforts to identify methods of preventing TBI, to expand biomedical research efforts
or to minimize the severity of dysfunction as a result of such an injury, and to improve the
delivery & quality of services through the State Demonstration projects."
HRSA - Health Resources Services Administration - correct answer ✔✔Money to states to
improve integration services, establish policy & procedure financial support
CDC - Center for Disease Control - correct answer ✔✔Carries out projects to reduce incidence
of TBI
Rehabilitation act of 1973 - correct answer ✔✔Set foundation for state vocational rehab system,
a federal/state supported system of services which assists persons with disabilities who are
pursuing meaningful careers
Diffuse axonal injury - correct answer ✔✔Severe brain injury caused by extreme shearing forces
Persistent post concussive symptoms - correct answer ✔✔A complex disorder following a
concussion, lasting for weeks or months, consisting of symptoms such as headaches or
dizziness, Nausea, post Trumatic amnesia and GCS of 13/14
Must be diagnosed by neuropsychologist
Somatization - correct answer ✔✔The expression of psychological distress through physical
symptoms
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy - CTE - correct answer ✔✔Rare, progressive, degenerative
condition of central nervous system that is seen and repetitive brain trauma
Dementia, memory loss, aggression, confusion, depression
CERTIFICATION STUDY GUIDE 2026
Acute Brain Injury - correct answer ✔✔An injury to the brain that is not hereditary, congenital,
degenerative, or induced by birth trauma
Traumatic Brain Injury - correct answer ✔✔An alteration in brain function, or other evidence of
brain pathology, caused by an external force
2 Mechanisms
*trauma impact
* traumatic inertial forces
Non-traumatic brain injury - correct answer ✔✔Lack of O2, decreased nutrients to cells,
exposure to toxins, pressure from tumor or blockage or other neuro disorder
ABI Prevalence - correct answer ✔✔2nd most prevalent disability in U. S.
* 13.5 million Americans
Children & TBI - correct answer ✔✔* non-accidental trauma cause of 80% of deaths in children
under 2yo
* 2/3 of children under 3yo that are abused have TBIs
*falls cause 1/2 of TBI in 0-14yo
domestic violence - correct answer ✔✔67% of women in domestic violence had TBI symptoms
Mild TBI - correct answer ✔✔*concussion
*LOC > 30 min
*loss of memory >24hrs
,*CGS 13-15
*normal CT or MRI
*any AMS at time of incident
Moderate TBI - correct answer ✔✔*LOC up to 24hrs
*neuro signs of brain trauma
* CGS 9-12
*may have focal findings on CT
Severe TBI - correct answer ✔✔*LOC <24hrs
*GCS 3-8
Screens for TBI - correct answer ✔✔ACE - acute concussion eval
HELPS
WARCAT - warrior administered retrospective casualty assessment tool
TBIQ - traumatic brain injury questionnaire
ImPACT
OSU TBI ID
JCAHO (Joint Commission) - correct answer ✔✔The non-profit organization that assists
healthcare facilities by providing accreditation
3 year award
CARF (Rehabilitation Accreditation Commission) - correct answer ✔✔The Organization that
oversees the accreditation of brain injury programs
3 year award
, TBI Act of 1996 - correct answer ✔✔Federal Legislation
"To expand efforts to identify methods of preventing TBI, to expand biomedical research efforts
or to minimize the severity of dysfunction as a result of such an injury, and to improve the
delivery & quality of services through the State Demonstration projects."
HRSA - Health Resources Services Administration - correct answer ✔✔Money to states to
improve integration services, establish policy & procedure financial support
CDC - Center for Disease Control - correct answer ✔✔Carries out projects to reduce incidence
of TBI
Rehabilitation act of 1973 - correct answer ✔✔Set foundation for state vocational rehab system,
a federal/state supported system of services which assists persons with disabilities who are
pursuing meaningful careers
Diffuse axonal injury - correct answer ✔✔Severe brain injury caused by extreme shearing forces
Persistent post concussive symptoms - correct answer ✔✔A complex disorder following a
concussion, lasting for weeks or months, consisting of symptoms such as headaches or
dizziness, Nausea, post Trumatic amnesia and GCS of 13/14
Must be diagnosed by neuropsychologist
Somatization - correct answer ✔✔The expression of psychological distress through physical
symptoms
Chronic traumatic encephalopathy - CTE - correct answer ✔✔Rare, progressive, degenerative
condition of central nervous system that is seen and repetitive brain trauma
Dementia, memory loss, aggression, confusion, depression
